A houseboat view from Vembanad LakeMap of the backwaters in Kerala
The Kerala backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons and canals lying parallel to the Arabian Sea of the Malabar coast of Kerala state in south-western India. It also includes interconnected lakes, rivers, and inlets, a labyrinthine system formed by more than 900 km (560 mi) of waterways, and sometimes compared to bayous.[3] The network includes five large lakes linked by canals, both man made and natural, fed by 38 rivers, and extending virtually half the length of Kerala state. The backwaters were formed by the action of waves and shore currents creating low barrier islands across the mouths of the many rivers flowing down from the Western Ghats range. In the midst of this landscape there are a number of towns and cities, which serve as the starting and end points of backwater cruises.[4] There are 34 backwaters in Kerala.[5] Out of it, 27 are located either closer to Arabian Sea or parallel to the sea.[5] The remaining 7 are inland navigation routes.[5]
The backwaters have a unique ecosystem: freshwater from the rivers meets the seawater from the Arabian Sea. A barrage has been built near Thanneermukkom, so salt water from the sea is prevented from entering the deep inside, keeping the fresh water intact. Such fresh water is extensively used for irrigation purposes.[6][7] Many unique species of aquatic life including crabs, frogs and mudskippers, water birds such as terns, kingfishers, darters and cormorants, and animals such as otters and turtles live in and alongside the backwaters. Palm trees, pandanus shrubs, various leafy plants, and bushes grow alongside the backwaters, providing a green hue to the surrounding landscape.[7]
Sunset in the backwatersKavvayi Backwaters in Nileshwaram, Kasaragod
^"Ashtamudi Wetland". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
^"Vembanad-Kol Wetland". Ramsar Sites Information Service. Retrieved 25 April 2018.
^"Austin Pick: A Billion People in a Coconut Shell". Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2008.
^"11 Prime Destinations in Kerala for Backwater Tour". Archived from the original on 7 July 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
^ abcChandran 2018, p. 342.
^Cite error: The named reference Book was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ ab"Backwaters in Kerala". Kerala Backwater. Kerala Backwater Pvt. Ltd. 2015. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
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